Govt alert for coping with floods

LAHORE - Provincial Minister for Food & Chairman Cabinet Committee on Flood Bilal Yasin has said that district administration should remain fully active regarding monsoon and a precautionary strategy for monitoring sensitive places should be evolved at the earliest.

He said this while presiding over a meeting of Cabinet Committee on Flood at Committee Room of Civil Secretariat, here yesterday.

He said that provincial government is constantly in touch with tehsil and district administration and necessary funds and other protective equipments have been provided to the districts.

The meeting discussed in detail possible flood situation and monsoon 2016 and final shape was given to precautionary measures through joint action of various departments. The meeting also gave approval to the constitution of various high level committees for protecting from flood during monsoon.

These committees will give final shape to the precautionary measures through commissioners at divisional level. Similarly, these committees will also review other steps and protective equipments during March and submit reports to the government.

Chief Secretary Khizar Hayat Gondal asked divisional commissioners to shift the people inhabited illegally near nuhallas and other low-lying areas and remove encroachments so that any possible flood situation could be avoided.

He directed that reports regarding provision of relief items should be sent by February 29, 2016 so that relief goods could be provided timely.

He asked District Coordination Officers to formulate rules and regulations regarding provision of items which perish early so that there should be no shortage of relief activities.

The meeting was told that food hampers containing 15 A-grade items will be distributed among affectees. The meeting was told that demands have been received from 21 districts so far whereas remaining will soon be received.

The provincial minister directed that the district administrations will have to remain high alert for coping with any emergent situation arising due to monsoon so that complete protection to the life and property of the people could be provided.